I'm in a $1 SnG on Stars last night. This happened in a hand when we were down to 2 tables.

A player in middle position goes all in and gets 4 callers. I'm out of the hand because I've been getting rags all night and am very shortstacked. Anyway, the flop is all rags and is checked around. The turn is yet another rag and is checked to the button who bets about half the pot (The side is dry at this point). All 3 other players fold so the bettor and the all in flip up their hands. Bettor has jack high while all in has ace high.

I'm thinking to myself, how stupid is it to risk your chips to a bluff with little to nothing to win. Jack high wins so little pots (There are only a couple of worse hands). Anyway, the all in quadruples up and I have this suspicion that one of the other 3 players in the hand could have beaten him and taken him out.

Not too long after that, the same bluffer and I are in the blinds (me big, him small). I have 62o. None of the 5 cards help my hand and we both check the flop, and turn. On the river, this same guy bets out 300 into a 400 chip pot and I fold. He flips up his Jack high again as if to be bragging that he bluffed me out of the pot.

Is it just me, or does this person have a complex? Bluffing is necessary in poker, but it seems that too many people do it at the wrong time. Does anyone see the value added in either of these two bluff attempts?

1$ SNGs, people bluff alot....it's not necessary to win them. You really only bluff in them when it gets near the end or everyone is being a tight ass.

Bluffing into a dry side pot....makes ya laugh doesn't it.

I was one accused of bluffing into a dry side pot once on JetSet. I had AJs and the flop came Q high. I was sure that the other person in the hand had a worse hand than I did (but still had something as he called the allin preflop), so I put a minimum bet to try to build a side pot. After he folded he ridiculed me for bluffing into a dry side pot. I knew what he was talking about, but he wouldn't have beaten the allin (who ended up with trip queens).

I think the difference between the two is, I placed a minimal bet to try to build a side pot. I wasn't wanting to knock the guy out of the hand. The player in my first post came over the top and was trying to knock players out.

I dunno, maybe I'm just so tired, I think there is a difference.

My number one pet peeve in poker is people table coaching. Don't explain what they did wrong dude, just say something clever or nothing at all. Helping people get better who you are playing against, may cost you money in the long run.

We have places like this to discuss that sort of thing.

Originally Posted by Phytopath

My number one pet peeve in poker is people table coaching. Don't explain what they did wrong dude, just say something clever or nothing at all. Helping people get better who you are playing against, may cost you money in the long run.

We have places like this to discuss that sort of thing.

I could not agree more. I hate when I see someone say something like "This table is so tight"..............Of course it is, but dont point it out to them!!!! If it's tight loosen up and start stealing....why make them aware that its tight....so they can open up just when u r ready to start stealing?

Or...."How could you call my raise with 5 3 off suit"....shut the hell up and let him keep playing like a clown.

I used to make these mistakes, now if I want to chat at the table its not about poker.....or if they ask me something or make a comment my answer is always "i agree", or "good hand" or "nice play" regardless of what i really think.

You are playing AGAINST these people, shut up and try to beat them.

Originally Posted by Antneye

I could not agree more. I hate when I see someone say something like "This table is so tight"..............Of course it is, but dont point it out to them!!!! If it's tight loosen up and start stealing....why make them aware that its tight....so they can open up just when u r ready to start stealing?

Or...."How could you call my raise with 5 3 off suit"....shut the hell up and let him keep playing like a clown.

I used to make these mistakes, now if I want to chat at the table its not about poker.....or if they ask me something or make a comment my answer is always "i agree", or "good hand" or "nice play" regardless of what i really think.

You are playing AGAINST these people, shut up and try to beat them.

Actually I usually only say nice play if it was a "bad play"

I usually don't chat anymore. Occasionally, I'll throw in a nh or something to that effect, but that's about it. But if you could hear me cussing when my aces are cracked by K3o when four flush cards to his 3 come down for the second time in an hour. Whoooo boy.

I would consider betting into a multiway pot -- with one all-in player and no side pot -- in some limited circumstances. For example, if I had a made, but vulnerable hand (something like a small or middle pair), then I might bet out to protect my hand if I thought I was in the lead at that point. These kinds of pots can be quite large, and if you feel the pot is yours after the flop, I think you have to do what is necessary to protect your stake in it and eliminate the risk of being outdrawn.

In addition, I might also bet out for value with a really strong hand in an attempt to create a side pot. Here, my idea is to extricate the maximum value of the big hand that I waited all night to get.

Aside from these circumstances, I probably would just check the streets down. I know that I would never try to chase anyone out with just a broadway-card high hand.